Journal Entry Chapter

Chapter 1
On page 16 (PDF version), Lily says: “Everyone of those bees could have descended on me
like a flock of angels and stung me till I died and it wouldn’t have been the worst thing to
happen. People who think dying is the worst thing don’t know a thing about life.”

In the first part of the chapter Lily the main character tells us as if it were a magical event she
is surrounded by bees and that although she imagined she could die for the number of bees
but this would not be the saddest thing that has happened in her life. Because at the age of
four her mother died, unfortunately she doesn't have many memories of her, only when she
was cleaning a closet and its characteristic smell. In a way I understand that the sad part of
death is family members who are scarred for life, like Lily who has always wanted a maternal
figure. In addition to the fact that at school she has always been excluded and therefore
prefers to stand out for her style of clothing.

Chapter 2
On page 42 (PDF version), Lily says: “But I had such a moment right then, standing in my
own ordinary room. I heard a voice say, Lily Melissa Owens, your jar is open.”

Because Lily was annoyed with her father by believing him I consider he did the right thing to
take her space, for example I have been in similar situations where I don't agree with my
parents and not to get angry anymore I prefer to go out for a walk. Obviously the right thing
to do is to talk things to find a solution, in the end your parents represent an authority from
which you cannot disobey or disrespect. On the other hand, in the middle of the chapter we
can see that T,Ray only helped his daughter and I leave Rosaleen, I don't believe by a racial
issue however he doesn't show an appreciation for her even though she's been a year-old
worker and that after Deborah's death she's been in charge to take care of both.
Chapter 3

On page 54, Lily says: “According to Brother Gerald, hell was nothing but a bonfire for
Catholics.”

I believe that there are clearly cases of racism for some of the characters in the text, such as
Rosaleen who in a way expresses fear by not being able to make or enter places that are
public, Lily begins to understand that even though citizens' rights have already been signed
the mentality white people continue to segregate people of color. At another point in the
story we can see that Lily, trying to hide her past, starts to lie because she thinks that if
others find out her origin she will have to go back to T.Ray. In my personal opinion it is very
sad that for many years people, just because they are race, have been and continue to be
discriminated against. Situation that should change at all.

Chapter 4

On page 68, Lily says: “Since I want to tell the whole truth, which means the worst parts, I
thought they could be smart, but not as smart as me, me being white.”

Yes I consider that we still live in a racist society because we continuing seen cases
example the Black lives matter movement has been a racial conflict yet seeks equality and
eliminating discrimination. And with the event of George Floyd's death, I generated an
emotion of helplessness to the world population, making the movement greater. The part of
the Black Madonna is fundamental to Lily because part of a memory that relates to a
photograph from her mother Deborah and it can be a way of knowing about her past if you
look in the right place. I liked this chapter because we can see a Lily more aware of her
actions and the consequences of her lies.